Liquid-dispensing apparatus



pi I5 1924. AQJS@ J. B. DAVIS LIQUID DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Aug. '7. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS- pni 15 1924.

3,490,159 J. B. DAvls lLIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 7, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IHVLHTOR" ATTORNEYS Patented dpr. l5, m24.;-

una j srATl-:

. Louise Fureur ortica.

JOHN E. DANS, S?R'INGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSEGNO@ T0 GILBERT et BRRER CHUSETTS.

FCTUEING COMPANY, 0F WEE- -T PRINGFIELD, MASSAGHUSETTS, A COB- nrenm-nrsrfneisme nrranarus.

- .ppliea'tioniled August t, lat). Serial No. @1,98%

To all whom t may concern.'

, Be it mown that l, donn B. Davis, citizen of the United States residing at Springield, inthe county of lqampde'n and State e of Masmhusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in.

l liquid dispensing apparatus of the ty commonly employed for the purpose of ispensin gasoline and the like.

ne objectof the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing apparatus having a l measuring chamber associated therewith to receive the liquid, the said chamber being provided with means for quickly` and accurately bringing the liquid to a xed level whereby the rapidity ot operation is facilitated and accurate measurement insured.

A further object of the invention is to rovide in a dispensing apparatus of' this c aracter a fixed overdow pipe and a vertically movable discharge pipe, whereby the discharge pipe ma be readily positioned at such a distance elow the open end of the overow pipe as to permit the discharge ot a measured quantity ot liquid.

A further object of the invention is to rovide in a dispensing apparatus ot this c eracter a vent pipe for reventing the Siphoning out ci the liquid t ro h the outlet pipe and thus insuring the with rawal et a measured quantity under all conditions et use.

A further object or the invention is to provide means for suitably securing the holding means tor the movable discharge pipe in lined position and to prevent their being changed by any unauthorized person.

4@ A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing apparatus of this character which is ci simple construction and eiicient in operation.

Further objects of the invention relate to the details of construction in improved methods of operation as will :hilly appear in the detailed description to tollow:

Fig. l is an elevational view oi a liquid dispenslng apparatus embodying the present fl invention, certain ci the parts being broken away in order to show details ot the structure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-.-2 of Fig. l,

and thus illustrating the drain valve connected with the supply passage to the reservoir for draining the reservoir Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion of th vertical supporting plate and mechanismassoclated therewith for holding the discharge 0 pape in any one of a plurality of ixed posi- Fig. t is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partial y-in section, illustrating, the relative positions of the vertically movable discharge pipe and the well into which it telescopes; i

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the clutch mechanism for connecting the operating crank and the pinion for actuating the pump pistn; and

F1g. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the llne 7-7 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, l' designates a 75 pedestal which may be of any desired shape and which is preferably supported upon a suitable base 2 to which it is ermanently secured. Projecting upwardly iiom the base Zinto the interior portion of the pedestal l. @t 1s a main supply pipe 3 leading to a suitable supply reservoir 'of liquid and connected within the pedestal to the base plate t of the pump cylinder. An' overdow pipe 5 is also vertically positioned within the pedestal and secured y a suitableconnection 6 to apipe leading into the mainliquid supply reservoir above referred to. The base plate l supports a pump cylinder 7 oi suitable construction which is positioned within the pedestal l and carries a reciprocating piston 8, prettiti rerably provided with suitable backing 9 to l insure a proper lit between the outer edge Athe piston and the interior surface or of the pump cylinder. et

A check valve 10, of the ordinary construction, is positioned within the opening formed in the base plate t for the purpose oi preventing a return of liquid from the pump cylinder to the main liquidreservoir alter the same has been drawn upwardly into the pump cylinder through the action ot the reciprocating piston 8.- A similar valve li is adapted to close a suitable passage l2 formed in the pump piston, thus enabling the piston to operate, in the manner common toa litt pump of this character, tor drawing liquid upwardly trom the reservoir. At the same.

time, the valve 11 is so constructed as to be raised by reason of the pressure of the liquid upon downward movement of the piston in a manner well known in the art. The piston 8 is preferably so formed as to have considerable weight thus permitting it to readily return to its lowermost position when the power applied lift the same is withdrawn.

lPositioned a ove the pedestal 1 and supported thereby is a casing 13 adapted to enclose and support the mechanism for operating the piston and also provide a passage whereby the liquid may be forced upward y as the reciprocating piston is actuated.

A rack bar 14 is suitably connected to the piston heretofore described and extends upwardly through the casing 13, the said bar being provided with a suitable valve 15 adjacent the upper end thereof, which is adapted to rest upon a seat 16 formed in the upper end of said casing when the piston is in its lowermost position, thus preventing the weight of the gasoline held in the upper compartments from vcausing a leakage through the stuiing boxes surrounding the operating machanism in the casing 13.

A pinion 162 is carried by a shaft 16 suitably mounted in the casing 13 and this shaft is operatively connected at one en d thereof by a crank 17 provided with a handle- 18 whereby the pinion may be rotated to raise the piston in a manner well known in the art.

An overflow passage 19 is formed in the casing 13 and vis connected with the overflow pipe 5 previously described at its lower end while an upper overflow pipe 20 connects with the opposite end of said passage and extends upwardly into the measuring chamber for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. lt will be obvious from an examination of Fig. 2 of the drawings that the assage 19 is so constructed as t0 leave a ree and unobstructed passage between the overflow pipe 5 and the overflow pipe 20 cooperated therewith. A passage 21 connects the overflow passage 19 with the interior portion 22 of the casing, and this passage 21 is normally closed by means of a suitable valve 23 under the influence 4of a coil spring 24 bearing thereagainst. A valve stem 25 extends outwardly from the valve 23 and is slidably mounted in a cap 26 carried by thecasing and having a-n arm 27 fixedly connected to the outer end thereof, as at 28. It will be understood that suitable packing is inserted about the valve spindle 25 to prevent leakage of gasoline therearound, as is also true of thel other members, as shaft 16', which project through the casing 13.

The crank 17 as previously described, is provided with a staple 30 secured adjacent the 'point of connection of said crank when the operating shaft and the arm 27, just described, has a cutaway inclined portio.i 31 which may project within the staple 30 and be firmly secured thereto by means of a padlock 33 passing through an opening 34 formed in the reduced inclined end portion of the arm. The crank 1T is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 16 which carries the pinion 162, and a suitable collar 35 is fixed to the shaft adjacent the outer end portion thereof, the said collar and crank being provided with suitable interengaging clutch .members 36 and 37 whereby the crank`l when forced inwardly, will engage the collar to rotate the crank and, when the crank is removed to its outermost position, the shaft will Ibe left free to rotate independently thus permitting the rack 14 to move downwardly under the influence of the weight exerted by the piston after the piston has been raised by rotation of the crank.

When the reduced inclined portion of the arm 27 is forced within the staple 30 carried by the crank, the valve 23 will be drawn outwardly against the coil spring 24, whereby the interior portion 22 of the casing will be placed in communication with the overflow passage through the passage 21, thus permitting the interior portions of the casing to be drained. Under ordinary circumstances, this draining of the interior portion of the casing will not be effected except when the dispensing apparatus is to remain out of use for some considerable time as for example,-when the station is closed :for the night. It will be readily seen that the provision of the mechanism just described permits theliquid to be withdrawn from the upper portion of the apparatus whenever the same is to remain unused for a considerable time and also provides a ready means for locking the operating mechanism so as to prevent the same from being used by any unauthorized person.

Positioned above the casing 13 is a second casing section 40 which is provided with an interior passage 41 through which the liquid tobe measured is adapted to be forced under the inliuence of the. reciprocating piston previously described. A measuring chamber 42, of suitable shape and size, is located directly above the casing 40, said measuring chamber being provided with one or more transparent portions 43` each of which, in the present instance may consist of a glass set in longitudinally extended bosses 44 carried by said measuring chamber. A graduated scale of numbers 45 is preferably secured, either to the transparent portion 43 or to the boss 44 adjacent the-reto, whereby the level of the liquid in the measuring chamber may be readily noted upon the scale The ove-row pipe 20 previously described `extends upwardly into the measuring chamber 42 and has at its upper end an adjustable portion 46,

which in lthe present instance is shown threaded upon the main portion of the overiiow pipe, whereby the upper end portion of the pipe may be adjusted slightly to vary the eil'ective height of the same. The open end of the overflow pipe is adapted to be so adjusted that after upward movement of the reciprocating piston carrying liquid above the top of the overfiow pipe, a sllght amount of liquid will pass downwardly through the overflow pipe and the liquid remaining in the measuring chamber will come to rest at the zero point upon the lscale 45. t

A vertically positioned plate 47 is located adjacent the portion 40 of the casing, and this plate is provided with a plurality of vertical slots 48 formed therein for the reception of suitable bolts 49 employed to se.- curc recessed holding members 5() in position upon the vertical plate. Each 'of theV holding members 50 is provided with a slot 51 formed in one end 'thereof and has an undercut shoulder 52 adapted to engage one edge of the upwardly extending plate 50. '.lhese holding members 50 are capable of slight vertical adjustmenton the upright plate 47 by reason ofthe vertical-slots' 48 previously described and, when these holding members are properly positioned, they are secured in place by nuts 53 threaded upon the bolts 49 previously described. Each of the bolts 49 may lbe provided with an internally threaded opening formed in the outer end thereof for the reception' of a screw 54 which is adapted to ,hold a cover plate 55 in position over the head of each bolt. These cover plates may be provided with .a graduated series of numerals corresponding to the graduations upon thetransparent portions of the measuring chamber.

A channel shaped member 56 ma-y be support/ed from the inner face of the upright plate 47 in such a manner thatithe annular edges of the channel member overlies the sides of the nuts 53 previously described, thus preventing accidental or intentional dislocation of the nuts and consequent movement of the holding members from their adjusted position. Studs 57 are preferably fixed to the. plate 47 and project inwardly therefrom and to these studs the upper and lower end portions of the plate 56 are secured after the latter has been thus positioned over the nuts 53 to hold them against rotation. When the holding members have been properly set in adjusted position by some authorized person, as the sealer of weights and measures, the plate 56 is preferably placed in position in the manner above described and may be so secured as to be incapable of being removed without notice being given that the mechanism has r been tampered with by some unauthorized person through the application of seals 60 upper end portion of the discharge pipe 61 with a' s eev- 65 located in' parallel relation with discharge pipe 61. 65 is mounted for Vertical movement in a combined bearing and stuiiing box 66' carried by the base of the measuring chamber and also slides upon and telescopes over, a rod 67 located adjacent to and substantially parallel with the vertically extending plate 47 previously described. A handle 68 is rotatably mounted upon the sleeve 65, being secured against movement longitudinally thereof by means of a pair of collars 69 secured to said sleeve.

From the above description, it will be clearly understood that the holding members 50 are properly held in position upon the plate 47 so as to be engaged by the handle 68 to hold the delivery pipe in any one of a variety of adjusted positions whereby a certain fixed quantity of liquid may pass from the measuring chamber through the delivery pipe, the quantity of liquid permitted to pass in any position of the delivery pipe being the same as that indicated by the numeral carried by the member supporting handle 68.

lt will be seen that as the liquid passes from the measuring tank through the delivery pipe, it first passes into the well 62 from which it is adapted to be drawn by an outlet pipe 70. Any suitable form of valve mechanism may be employed in connection with the outlet pipe and in the present instance this comprises a valve 71. adapted to be operated through a hand lever 72.

Considerable diiiiculty has been heretofore encountered in devices of this general character in that the outlet pipe under certain circumstances, as when connected to a hose for furnishing gas or the like to an automobile, would not only withdraw the liquid down to the level of the top of the well but would also withdraw a considerable amount of liquid from the well by reason of a Siphon action of the combined hose and outlet pipe particularly when the well was substantially filled with liquid. ln order to overcome this diiiiculty, a vent pipe 74 is employed, one end being connected with the outlet pipe, as at 75, and the oppo- The sleeve site end of said pipe being connected with the delivery chamber above the level of the liquid therein. With this construction, when the liquid has been withdrawn from the delivery pipe to a point adjacent the base portionpf the measuring chamber air is admitted throu h the pipe 74 thus preventing the liqui from being withdrawn below the level of the outlet pipe. A cover plate 77 is preferably secured to the upper end portion of the measuring chamber and suitable air openings are provided either in the cover plate 77 or in the upper portion of the air chamber for permitting the escape of air as the liquid is forced in the measuring chamber and also allowing air to enter the measuring chamber and the pipe 74 as the liquid is withdrawn.

ln the operation of the mechanism above described, the reciprocating piston is normally positioned adjacent the base plate 4 as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When it is desired to deliver a given quantity of liquid, the handle 68 is first pushed in the notch 51 formed in the particular holding member corresponding to the number of gallons of liquid which it is desired to withdraw. The crank 17 is then ressed inwardly to engage the clutch mem ers 36 and 37 and turned until the level of the liquid in the measuring chamber rises to or slightly above the free end of the open end of the overow pipe. Thereupon the crank 17 is released, and the piston thus returns to its original position by reason of its weight as has been previously described. As soon as pumping ceases, the liquid levels itself 0H, the excess returning through pipe 20. The handle 68, having` previously been placed in the appropriate holding member, the delivery pipe 61 is now so positioned relative to the overilow pipe as to permit an amount of liquid to flow through the delivery pipe equal to the amount designated by the numeral upon the holding member with which the handle 68 is in engagement. The lever 72 is then actuated and the liquid thus ermitted to How from the measuring chain r into the outlet 70. lf a hose or pipe is connected with the outlet, any siphoning of the liquid from the welll below the normal level thereof, will be' prevented by reason of the air entering through the vent pipe and thus preventing withdrawal of the liquid below its proper level in the well by reason of the arrangement of the fixed overflow pipe and the vertical movable delivery pipe as described herein. A simple an eliicient mechanism is thus provided for rapidly and accurately dispensing liquids without making it necessary to make any complicated adjustment of the parts after each operation.

The invention has been disclosed herein for illustrative purposes, in an embodiment at present preferred, but the sco e of the invention is defined by the appen ed claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What l claim is- 1. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising, a measuring chamber having a transparent portion, a well located beneath said chamber, a slidable delivery pipe open at both ends and extending through the bottom wall of said chamber and depending into said well, an outlet pipe communicating with said Well, and means for preventing the withdrawal of liquid from said well below a predetermined level.

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising, a measuring chamber having a transparent portion, a well located beneath said chamber and having a closed lower end, a slidable delivery pipe open at both ends and extending from said chamber through the bottom wall thereof with its lower end disposed in said well, an outlet passage communicating with said well near its upper end, and a vent pipe for connecting said passage to the atmosphere.

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a measuring chamber, a well located adjacent said chamber and extending therebelow, an outlet pipe communicating with said well, and means for preventin withdrawal of the liquid from the well low a predetermined level.

4. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising a measuring chamber provided with a transparent portion, a well located adjacent said measuring chamber, means communicating with the well for withdrawin liquid therefrom, and an air pipe connected with said means for preventing the withdrawal of the liquid below a predetermined point.

5. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising, a measuring chamber having a transparent portion, means for supplying liquid thereto. a stationary overiiow pipe in said chamber, a well located beneath said chamber and having a closed lower end, a slidable delivery pipe open at both ends and extending from said chamber through the bottom thereof with its lower end disposed in said well, an outlet passage communicating with said well near its upper end, and a vent pipe for connecting said paage to the atmosphere.

6. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising, a measuring chamber, a well located adjacent thereto, a stationary overflow pipe having an open end in communication with said chamber, a vertically adjustable discharge pipe for establishin communication between said well and sai chamber, an outlet means forl withdrawing liquid from said well, and means for preventing withdrawal of the liquid from the well below a predetermined level.

ice

7. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising, a measuring chamber provided with a transparent portion, a well located below said chamber, a vertically movable delivery pipe for establishing communication between said well and said chamber, an outlet pipe for withdrawing liquid from said well, and a vent pipe connecting said outlet pipe and said chamber above the level of the liquid therein for preventing withdrawal of the liquid fromthe well below a predetermined level.

8. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising, a measuring chamber, a vertically movable discharge pipe communicating therewith, a control means therefor, a late provided with a plurality of members apted to engage said control means for holding the discharge pipe in adjusted position, fasi tening means for securing each of said members to the plate, and a common guard member for preventing tampering with said fastening means when the said engaging members are secured in position.

9. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising, a measuring chamber, a vertically movable discharge pipe communicating therewith, adjustable members for securing said discharge pipe in a plurality of adj usted positions, and common means for preventing movement of all said adjustable members by any unauthorized person.

In testimony whereof I have aiixed my signature.

JOHN B. DAVIS. 

